Hmmmm, well Bob, you need a nap. I honestly sit here and laugh at some of these ludicrous comments made by people who "drive through the neighborhood and see crack houses everywhere!" I just don't see that. I see people out walking their dogs everyday and talking with neighbors. I see people playing with their kids in their yards in the afternoons and landscaping on the weekends. I personally wave at anyone who is walking by even if I don't know them, just so they feel welcomed. And yes, the downtown area does have some issues that need addressed, so do something about it! Buy a house and fix it up. If I had enough money and time, I would buy every single neglected house and fix them up (according to the guidelines, of course). If any of you that are against the BAR had an expensive historic home in the neighborhood (which you DON'T), you would be all for the BAR. You wouldn't want someone doing crazy, tacky stuff to their home when it's sitting next to yours and depreciating the value!!! This is an issue that affects all of us who live here in the Historic District. We have invested time and money into our homes and we have the right to protect those investments. We chose to live here and improve the neighborhood. If you want to fight something that is absolutely CRAZY, ask city council why they approved to give each one of themselves health insurance at $400 a month? Those are your tax dollars at work. That, my friends, is something worth fighting against and something that should be reversed.
OK, maybe I hurt some feelings with the mobile home comment...but since have I lived in one before, I am allowed to say that. As for living in the Historic District, I do. In fact, I have owned 3 homes in this wonderful neighborhood and have invested plenty of time and money myself over the years. So, I speak from experience, not ignorance. Forget your opinion or mine, the fact remains that when a rule or law or whatever is broken intentionally, that individual needs to be held accountable, regardless of who they are. I certainly hope that the BAR remains in place to protect all of our investments, as well as raising the standard for remodeling done here. And just for the record, Mr. Wilson's efforts are actually appreciated by most people, including myself. He still needs to follow the guidelines. So, I get the issue....and I have a copy of the guidelines. I'm not sure which "drug houses" you are talking about? But if you see that type of activity, report it to the police. 2 police officers live right on S. Townville Street. We all need to be proactive to help the neighborhood, but the issue IS VINYL SIDING!!! Slumlords are a whole different story!
To those of you who keep mentioning "drug houses" as some type of reasoning for your "pro-Spencer" attitude, let me clarify that the BAR's purpose is not to handle Seneca's criminal activity, but to decide if any variance from the suggested guidelines is appropriate or not. So, if you have issues with drug activity, call the police. Slapping cheap vinyl siding on every house in Seneca isn't going to raise the value of the homes or the appeal of the neighborhood to interested buyers. Mr. Wilson's cry of financial hardship is a joke. Ask him how many properties he owns? I'm thinking 70 or so. If he really cared about this neighborhood, he wouldn't have a problem with following the rules. But all he cares about is his profit and how much cash he can make off each property. Meanwhile, homeowners here, who spend thousands of dollars and countless hours of sweat equity to improve their home and who truly love this community, aren't complaining about fixing up their homes and following the guidelines. Just poor Spencer Wilson, if he can even afford to eat this week... He can go put vinyl on every house he wants to outside this Historic District. The reason he's here is because there is money to be made and a desire to live in the downtown area. Not to mention, the extra expense he encounters to use hardiplank or wood, would surely be returned to him at closing, so what's the big deal? Look people, the next time your kid disobeys your rules and guidelines because they're only "suggested", maybe you'll get the point of this whole thing. His day in court will prove his arrogance didn't pay off this time. I'm pretty sure there are other investors who see the value in preserving this neighborhood, so he can take his vinyl somewhere else, like a mobile home park.
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Posted on May 14 at 10:15 p.m.
On Petition to abolish BAR circulating
Hmmmm, well Bob, you need a nap. I honestly sit here and laugh at some of these ludicrous comments made by people who "drive through the neighborhood and see crack houses everywhere!" I just don't see that. I see people out walking their dogs everyday and talking with neighbors. I see people playing with their kids in their yards in the afternoons and landscaping on the weekends. I personally wave at anyone who is walking by even if I don't know them, just so they feel welcomed. And yes, the downtown area does have some issues that need addressed, so do something about it! Buy a house and fix it up. If I had enough money and time, I would buy every single neglected house and fix them up (according to the guidelines, of course). If any of you that are against the BAR had an expensive historic home in the neighborhood (which you DON'T), you would be all for the BAR. You wouldn't want someone doing crazy, tacky stuff to their home when it's sitting next to yours and depreciating the value!!! This is an issue that affects all of us who live here in the Historic District. We have invested time and money into our homes and we have the right to protect those investments. We chose to live here and improve the neighborhood. If you want to fight something that is absolutely CRAZY, ask city council why they approved to give each one of themselves health insurance at $400 a month? Those are your tax dollars at work. That, my friends, is something worth fighting against and something that should be reversed.